Single pin coaxial initiator, retainer and connector and method of operation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An initiator for an inflator comprisinga) a header including a charge and an electrical initiating element capable of initiating such charge;
- b) only one electrically conductive pin connected to the electrical initiating element;
c) an arcuate element mounted on the header surrounding such pin and connected to the electrical initiating element;
d) at least one spring-loaded electrically conductive arm connected to such arcuate element and in shunting engagement with such pin; and
e) means for separating said at least one electrically conductive spring-loaded arm from said electrically conductive pin to place the pin in a non-shunting mode which means for separating is rotatable about said pinwhereby the initiator is protected against inadvertent firing when such arm is in shunting engagement with such pin, and whereby the initiator may be placed in a non-shunting mode.
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Abstract
An initiator positioned in a retainer having a single pin and a arcuate conductive ring shaped and positioned so that the ring can be in conductive shunting contact with the pin or separated from the pin by a connector. The connector may be connected to the initiator or to the retainer.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An initiator for an inflator comprising
a) a header including a charge and an electrical initiating element capable of initiating such charge; -
b) only one electrically conductive pin connected to the electrical initiating element; c) an arcuate element mounted on the header surrounding such pin and connected to the electrical initiating element; d) at least one spring-loaded electrically conductive arm connected to such arcuate element and in shunting engagement with such pin; and e) means for separating said at least one electrically conductive spring-loaded arm from said electrically conductive pin to place the pin in a non-shunting mode which means for separating is rotatable about said pin whereby the initiator is protected against inadvertent firing when such arm is in shunting engagement with such pin, and whereby the initiator may be placed in a non-shunting mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of configuring and connecting a connector, initiator and retainer comprising
(a) providing first arcuate attachment means on the retainer and second arcuate attachment means compatible with the first attachment means on the connector so that said attachment means are rotatable with respect to one another when attached; -
(b) providing first arcuate electrical engagement means on the initiator and second arcuate electrical engagement means on the connector so that said first and second attachment means are rotatable with respect to one another when engaged (c) attaching the first and second arcuate attachment means together at any rotational orientation and thereafter rotating the retainer with respect to the connector; and (d) attaching the first and second electrical engagement means together at any rotational orientation and thereafter rotating the initiator with respect to the connection.
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8. A method of connecting a connector, an initiator and a retainer comprising
a) providing on the initiator a conductive pin and a spring biased arcuate element surrounding the pin in engagement with the pin as biased; -
b) providing on the retainer a first arcuate engagement means and on the connector a second arcuate engagement means where engagement of such engagement means permits relative rotation therebetween; c) providing nonconductive arcuate insertion means on the connector for insertion between the pin and the pin spring biased arcuate element; d) attaching the first and second arcuate engagement means together at any rotational orientation and thereafter rotating the retainer with respect to the connector; and e) inserting said insertion means between the pin and the spring-biased arcuate element whereby the connector is mechanically connectable to the retainer and the connector is electrically connected to the initiator in any rotational orientation.
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9. An initiator, retainer and connector combination comprising
a) means for connecting the initiator to the retainer to form an initiator and retainer member; -
b) a detachable connector arrangement for connecting the connector to the initiator and retainer member, such connector arrangement in turn comprising i) a first arcuate mechanical connector means on the connector; ii) a second arcuate mechanical connector means on the initiator and retainer member; iii) said first and second mechanical connector means being so configured that they may be brought together in any rotational orientation to accomplish mechanical connection and thereafter may be rotated with respect to one another while maintaining such mechanical connection; c) an arrangement for electrically connecting the connector to the initiator in turn comprising i) a first arcuate electrical connector means on the initiator; ii) a second arcuate electrical connector means on the connector; iii) said first and second electrical connector means being so configured that they may be brought together in any rotational orientation to accomplish electrical connection and thereafter may be rotated with respect to one another while maintaining such electrical connection.
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10. An initiator, retainer and connector combination comprising
a) first arcuate mechanical and electrical attachment means on the initiator; -
b) second arcuate mechanical and electrical attachment means on the connector; c) said first and second arcuate mechanical and electrical attachment means being so configured that they are engageable together in any rotational orientation to accomplish attachment and thereafter may be rotated with respect to each other while maintaining attachment; and d) means for connecting the initiator to the retainer.
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11. A method of connecting a connector, an initiator and a retainer comprising
a) providing on a retainer a first arcuate engagement means and on the connector a second arcuate engagement means where upon engagement of such engagement means they are capable of relative rotation therebetween; -
b) engaging such first and second arcuate engagement means at any rotational orientation and causing rotation therebetween; c) providing electrical rotational engagement means for accomplishing electrical engagement between the initiation and the connector; and d) connecting the initiator and connector at any rotational orientation and thereafter rotating the connector and initiator with respect to one another.
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Specification